Tulane University’s A. B. Freeman School of Business will honor two great men at the 2012 Tulane Council of Entrepreneurs Award Gala on April 13th, 2012. Jerry M. Greenbaum will be recognized as the Tulane Distinguished Entrepreneur of the Year and Jay Altman as Tulane Outstanding Social Entrepreneur of the Year.

Each year, the Freeman School’s Levy-Rosenblum Institute for Entrepreneurship presents the awards to outstanding entrepreneurs in the community. The Tulane Distinguished Entrepreneur of the Year award honors individuals who embody the spirit of entrepreneurship and philanthropic generosity. The Tulane Outstanding Social Entrepreneur of the Year award recognizes individuals dedicated to improving the community through entrepreneurial initiatives.

Jerry Greenbaum

Greenbaum is chairman of CentraArchy Affiliates, a family-owned restaurant group with companies throughout the southeast. Greenbaum and his wife, Barbara Axelrod Greenbaum (N ’63), are lifelong supporters of Tulane University. They opened the Chophouse New Orleans steakhouse in order to be closer to Tulane and New Orleans.

In 2011, Greenbaum joined the Board of Tulane and donated the lead gift to develop a hospitality curriculum at the Freeman School. In addition, Greenbaum and his wife played a big role in the construction of Goldring/Woldenberg Hall II and they provided support for new facilities for baseball, basketball and football following Hurricane Katrina.

Jay Altman

Altman is co-founder and CEO of FirstLine Schools, a charter organization that works towards creating and inspiring successful open-enrollment public schools in New Orleans. FirstLine currently operates five public charter schools in the city, including Samuel J. Green Charter School, Arthur Ashe Charter School, John Dibert Community School, Langston Hughes Academy, and Joseph S. Clark Preparatory High School.

For many years, Altman has partnered with parents and educators to provide the best education for all students in New orleans. He taught in the city for several years before co-founding New Orleans Charter Middle School. He also founded the James Lewis Extension School, New Orleans Outreach, New Orleans Summerbridge and Leading Educators.

About Julia Ballard: Julia is the current Editor-In-Chief of Silicon Bayou News. She loves the entrepreneurial and tech community in New Orleans and believes there is no better time to be living here. Catch up with her on Twitter @juliaballard or send her an email at julia@siliconbayounews.com. View author profile.